Closure for containers, cans, or the like



L. H. TUCKER.

CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS, CANS, OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED 050.15.1917.

1,361,419. Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

L. H. Tucker jeo LAWRENCE H. TUCKER, 0F NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS, CANS, OR THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. *7, 1920.

Application filed December 15, 1917. Serial No. 207,309.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE H. TUoKnR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Closures for Containers, Cans, or the like; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in closures for containers.

The object of this invention is to improve the construction of closures for containers, such as gasolene cans, oil cans, or the like and to render the closures movable under pressure to open or closed position and thus avoid accidental opening of the containers.

A still further object of this invention is to provide closures for cans, containers or the like which closures are secured to a spring steel rod, which, due to the resiliency of the rod permits the closures to be readily moved into and out of registration with the outlet openings in the containers or cans.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a closure of this character, which will be simple, practical, and comparatively inexpensive in construction and one that can be manufactured and sold at a low cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and set forth in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through a container or the like illustrating the application of my improved closures.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through one of the outlet openings.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view from below illustrating the closures in open position.

Fig. 4; is a vertical sectional view of a slightly modified form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a cap for the outlet opening.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates a container or can provided in its top wall with spaced outlet openings 6.

The walls of the openings have the upstanding flanges 7, which flanges have their upper edges bent to provide an annular retaining flange 8. A valve seat 9 is positioned within each opening and is held against removal therefrom by the flanges 7 and 8 respectively. The lower edges of the valve seats 9 are beveled as at 10 to permit the valves to readily seat and close the openings.

he top wall is provided centrally with an opening in which is secured a bearing member 11. The bearing member 11 extends above and below the surfaces of the top wall and is secured thereto in any suitable manner.

A shaft 12 extends through the bearing 11 and is provided with a shoulder 13 which abuts the bearing. The ends of the shaft extend above and below the surfaces of the top wall and each end is squared as at 14 and is provided with a transverse opening 15. The upper squared end 14 permits of the application thereto of a wrench or the like for the rotating of the shaft in the bearing 11. The opening 15 at the upper end of the shaft permits of a rod, pin or the like to be extended therethrough so as to permit of the rotation of the shaft if. a wrench or the like is not obtainable when it is desired to rotate the shaft.

A spring rod 16 is fitted over the lower squared end of the shaft 12 and is held in position thereon by a cotter key or suitable pin 17 which is extended through the opening in the lower squared end of the shaft. This construction permits of the removing of the rod when desired. It is to be understood by virtue of the rod being constructed of spring steel, it will have a certain degree of resiliency, the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully described. The rod is provided adjacent each end with a bearing head or washer 18 and fitted upon the ends of thev rod beyond the washer and abutting the same are the spherical valves 19.

A washer 20 is fitted upon each end of the rod 16 and abuts its respective valve 19. Pins or keys 21 are extended through the rod 16 and engage the washers 20 to hold the valves against longitudinal movement on the rod.

It is to be understood that the flanges 7 of each opening 6 may be exteriorly screw threaded so as to permit a cap 21' to be fitted thereon to prevent the valves from being operated.

The valves or spherical members are so positioned on the rod 16 as to be in direct alinement with the openings 6 in the container and by slight rotary movement of the shaft 12, through the medium of a rench or rod attached thereto, the valves may be unseated or seated as desired. When it is desired to unseat the valve it is only necessary to apply a rotary pressure to the shaft and due to the resiliency of the rod 16 the valves will be unseated and moved out of registration With the openings and permit the contents of the container to be removed through the openings. Upon being seated, the spherical members partake of a rolling or rotary movement and thereby operate With a minimum of Wear and friction.

The top Wall of the can is provided With a reinforce 22 Which is provided by striking up from the top Wall a rib as illustrated in Fig. 1.

A handle 23 is secured by its ends as at 24 to the top Wall of the container or the like and is directly over the shaft 12. This handle permits of the carrying of the container or the like When desired.

Referring to the modification illustrated in Fig. 4:, the container is identical in construction as the preferred form other than the shaft 12 has removably secured to its lower squared end 1 1 a curved spring steel rod 24, this rod having secured thereto the valves 19 in the manner described in the preferred form.

It is to be understood by virtue of the curved rod, the valve 19 will be held seated under a greater pressure.

Having thus described my invention, what 40 I claim is. V 1. A can closure including a Wall having openings, valve seats secured in said open-. ings and projecting beyond one face of the Wall, an operating shaft journaled in the Wall, a spring arm secured to the shaft and having its ends projecting beyond the seats, and spherical valves journal-ed on the. arm adjacent its ends and adapted to ride on and off the seats by'the rotation of said shaft,

said valves being held in tight engagement with the valve seats When in engagement therewith and in tight engagement With the wall when disengaged from the valve seats.'

2. A can closure including a Wall having three openings, integral collars surrounding a pair of openings, flanges formed on said collars and partially closing the pair of openings, valve seats located in said pair of openings and retained therein by the flanges, a bearing secured in the other opening and having a recess, an operating shaft journaled in said bearing, a collar secured to the shaft and located in the recess, a spring arm secured 'to the shaft, and spherical 

